Azione della luce sulla crescita allo stadio di plantula di un mutante clorofilliano di Triticum durum Desf

Abstract

ACTION OF LIGHT ON SEEDLING GROWTH IN A YELLOW-GREEN MUTANT OF TRITICUM DURUM DESF. — Dry grains of Triticum durum cv. « Cappelli » and its radiation-induced yellow-green mutant were sown in sand in four environment, different for light conditions (daylight, artificial light, ultraviolet rays, darkness), having all the same temperature (23°C.). Seven days after sowing, the following data were registered: a) growth (in cm.) of the shoot and of the longest root; b) fresh weight (in gr.) of shoots and roots; c) water content of shoots and roots.

The following main results were obtained:

1. the yellow-green mutant always shows less growth and less weight increase than normal « Cappelli », with the exception of the seedlings grown at daylight, which have shorter shoots and longer roots than the normal « Cappelli » but the same weight:

2. artificial light, besides depressing the growth of the roots of the yellow-green mutant, which becomes green under these conditions, induces a remarkable decrease in the water content of the roots of the two wheats.